In the future, aliens known as souls,an entity able to survive through host’s body, conquered and captures the human race
then invades their body. Healers are part of the community who transfers souls into human hosts while Seekers are the ones hunting down the remaining human race.
Melanie Stryder, as one of the last of rebels besides her little brother Jamie and Jamie are on the run against Seekers. After much struggle and attempted suicide Melanie was caught and put through an insertion with of a soul. Normally insertion would take over the host’s body. But Melanie’s alien soul known as Wanderer wakes up to Melanie’s memories and finds that her host’s mental presence is still within the body. Melanie still strives to gain back what is rightfully hers therefore in the process hunts Wanderer with memories and emotions of her past until the soul finally develops affection towards Melanie’s brother and lover.
In the days ahead, Wanderer unravels a message given to Melanie about a secret hideaway told by her Uncle Jeb. On a road trip to Tucson, half dead in the desert, she was saved by Uncle Jeb and other rebels Kyle and Ian O’Shea. Seeing that the person saved was a parasite the brothers attempted to kill her but Uncle Jeb steps in and brings her blindfolded into their hideaway caves. In the caves she found out that Jamie and Jared were inside. But although Melanie was so happy to see Jared. She was attacked by Jared. She is imprisoned by Jared and Uncle Jeb in confusion on what to do to their loved one. In time, Wanderer was accepted by the other rebels by the routine jobs and the unofficial history teacher (she has traveled to 9 worlds including Earth) to the people. Some even believed that Melanie is still present in her mind. Meanwhile, Ian falls in love with Wanda (Wanderer’s nickname given by Uncle Jeb). Wanda, confused with human emotion claims that Ian is only attracted to Melanie’s body.
When Jamie returns from the raid with an infected cut to the leg, Wanda decides to get medical supplies with the help of Jared. After successfully stealing medical supplies, the human realizes Wanda’s use. Later, Wanda’s Seeker was captured by the rebels. As a kind soul Wanda found a way to save the Seeker’s life…by teaching Doc the secret to removing souls from their host’s body. In exchange Doc must promise to set the soul free and to remove Wanda’s soul from Melanie’s body.
When Ian found out about her plan he tries to dissuade her but in the middle of the night Wanda sneaks out to Doc to have her soul removed. Later she wokes up in a new body and found out that none of the humans wished her to leave. In their last raid in the book, the rebels found another human group who also have a soul among them. And therefore concluded that humanity may still have hope for the future.